Dental Implants – Fort Worth, TX
How We Replace the Entire Tooth
Unlike a traditional denture or dental bridge, dental implants take tooth replacement and bring it to the next level. Instead of only replacing the crown portion, which makes up the visible part of your smile, implants restore the entire tooth. If you want chewing your favorite foods to feel natural and don’t want to worry about the maintenance that accompanies other tooth replacements, contact our dental office to schedule a consultation with Dr. Patel to discuss dental implants in Fort Worth!
Why Choose Studio Dental of Chisholm Trail for Dental Implants?
- Dental Implant Placement & Restoration Performed In-Office
- Sedation Available for Anxious Patients
- Dental Savings Plan Available for Uninsured Patients
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are small titanium posts that are surgically inserted below the gumline and into the jawbone to provide a strong foundation for any type of replacement teeth to be secured to. The idea behind this treatment is to restore the entire structure of missing teeth, including the roots. This revolutionary solution for missing teeth provides benefits that distinguish it from traditional prosthetics because of its ability to replicate the lifelike function and appearance of natural teeth.
The 4-Step Dental Implant Process
- The Consultation: The first part of every dental implant treatment is the consultation. During this visit, you’ll get to speak with Dr. Patel about your smile goals, expectations of the treatment, and get a better understanding of what benefits dental implants can offer you. Dr. Patel and our team will ask you about your oral health and medical history and evaluate your smile to help determine whether you’re a good candidate for the treatment. If you are, we’ll walk you through a treatment plan and ask any questions you may have before deciding whether to move forward with the process.
- Dental Implant Surgery: Patel has undergone advanced training to be able to complete the dental implant placement part of this process in-office. This means you won’t have to travel to a different provider in the middle of your treatment.
- Osseointegration & Abutment Placement: Following your surgery, your dental implants will naturally fuse with your jawbone through a process called osseointegration, which can take between three and six months. Once you’re healed, we’ll secure small metal connector pieces to your implants, called abutments.
- Attaching the Permanent Prosthetic: Finally, as soon as we receive your final restoration from our dental laboratory, we’ll call you back in to attach it to your abutments and complete your smile!
Benefits of Dental Implants
It’s important to recognize the distinct differences between dental implants and other forms of tooth replacement. Since dental implants replace the root of a tooth, they actually stimulate the jawbone and prevent bone loss. This keeps your biting force strong, making it easy to chew the foods you enjoy. Replacing the root also allows blood flow to continue to the jawbone, preventing changes in your facial appearance. For example, dental implants can stop the cheeks from hollowing out or sagging prematurely, which are common side effects of tooth loss.
Furthermore, dental implants have a very high success rate when placed by a professional, averaging about 98 percent. Considering that they last between 25 years and a lifetime, their longevity far outdoes traditional bridges and dentures. Plus, you’re getting the most natural-looking option possible because they mimic the entire tooth structure.
Who Dental Implants Can Help
There are many ways to replace teeth using dental implants, so you don’t have to be missing just one tooth to consider them. Below, we break down exactly how Dr. Patel replaces single, multiple, and an entire arch via dental implants.
Missing One Tooth
A single titanium post is placed inside the jawbone and given a few months to heal. Once the gum and bone tissue integrate with your implant, we can place an abutment (connector) on top. This works to stabilize the porcelain crown, which we’ll eventually secure on top after your gum tissue has healed around the abutment portion of your implant.
Missing Multiple Teeth
Dental implants can easily hold dental bridges when properly customized. Because implants can hold larger restorations with ease, we don’t have to remove existing tooth enamel to place them. This is not the case for traditional dental bridges, which do require the removal of existing enamel.
Missing All Teeth
If you’re tired of your current denture slipping and shifting out of place, implant dentures may be the right solution for you. No longer do you have to worry about using denture adhesive or relining your denture on a regular basis. Dental implants can be customized to hold a full or partial denture as well as a prosthetic that is either fixed or removable.
All-on-4/Teeth-in-a-Day
While traditional dental implants require many months of healing before they can be restored with crowns, the All-on-4 treatment accelerates the process for those in need of a denture. By placing four or more dental implants strategically throughout the mouth, we can maximize the amount of bone tissue that’s present and attach a full denture on top of them the same day as your surgery.
Start-to-Finish Convenience
While more dental offices are offering dental implants, they do not typically perform the placement portion of the treatment in-office. Instead, they send you to an offsite specialist to perform the surgery, making you travel between multiple dental offices to complete a single procedure. Dr. Patel has the expertise and credentials to place and restore dental implants himself, so you don’t have to travel across town to get everything you need.
Understanding the Cost of Dental Implants
If you’ve ever tried to ask a dentist over the phone what dental implants cost, you likely were not able to get a clear answer. The truth is that dental implants are highly customizable, which means the cost of your treatment will depend on your specific needs. For example, placing a single dental implant will cost less than placing a pair of implants that hold a three-unit bridge. Additionally, if you have severe gum disease or your jawbone is too weak to support implants as is, procedures like gum disease treatment or bone grafts by specialists will be needed before you can undergo the surgery.
It’s no secret that dental implants are an expensive treatment, but it’s important to keep their extensive restorative benefits in mind. In fact, because of their strength, longevity, and esthetics, dentists often consider them to be the most cost-effective option in the long-term. They are an investment that lasts for decades rather than a restoration that will inevitably require repair and replacement.
The Stages of Dental Implant Treatment
Each stage of the dental implant placement process incurs a separate fee. To better understand each phase, we’ve provided a breakdown:
- Initial Consultation: This is the first stage of your treatment. Here you will speak to Dr. Patel about your goals and what type of dental implant you think you might need. After examining your smile, he will offer suggestions on how to replace your missing tooth or teeth, as well as provide information about the procedure and overall cost of your treatment.
- Dental Work: This stage isn’t always necessary; however, for patients will minimal bone density, gum disease, or tooth decay, it will be necessary to take care of these dental problems prior to moving forward with dental implant placement.
- Surgical Procedure: The process of placing the implants, abutments, and custom restoration will be a separate charge, as it takes precision, patience, and skill on behalf of the individual placing your new smile.
- Abutment: Your abutments are necessary to ensure your restoration sits appropriately on top of your dental implants.
- Custom Restoration: Whether it is a dental crown, implant bridge, or an implant denture, your custom prosthetic will incur its own fee, which might be covered all or in part by your dental insurance company.
Are Dental Implants Worth the Cost?
While this can only be determined by you, the team at Studio Dental of Chisholm Trail believes dental implants are a worthwhile investment. Why? Here are just a few reasons:
- Traditional prosthetics aren’t permanent solutions to tooth loss like dental implants are.
- Greater functionality when it comes to eating, chewing, or speaking clearly.
- A lifetime of enjoying a beautiful, healthy smile.
- Improved oral health because of the implant’s ability to restore your entire tooth structure.
- Greater feeling of confidence in how you look and feel.
- Easy to maintain and clean.
Does My Dental Insurance Cover Dental Implants?
It will be important for you to review your dental insurance policy to find out if any or all of your procedure is covered. While most insurance companies will not pay for the implants, there are aspects that might require less money spent out of your wallet, including:
- Any pre-dental implant work (gum disease treatment, bone grafting)
- Consultation
- Custom restoration
- Anesthesia/sedation
If you are uninsured, Dr. Patel and his team can help you get signed up for dental financing through a third-party financier. Offering a variety of plans, you can feel confident moving forward with your implant procedure while being able to manage payments that are more closely aligned with your budget.
Dental Implant FAQs
Dental implants have quickly become one of the premier ways we can restore the appearance and function of our patient's smiles. If you’re considering dental implants, you’re probably curious about various aspects of the procedure. That’s why Dr. Patel has included the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about dental implants in Fort Worth. Keep reading to get the information you need before beginning treatment or reach out to our office to schedule your initial consultation!
Why are dental implants so popular?
Dental implants are incredibly popular because of the many health, beauty, and functional benefits they bring our patients. Primarily, dental implants are the only tooth replacements that preserve your jawbone by stimulating it to prevent deterioration after tooth loss. Additionally, dental implants look, feel, and function just like your natural teeth, making it easy to smile, laugh, and chew with confidence. Plus, with proper care, your implants can last for a lifetime.
Does it hurt to get dental implants?
Because dental implants require oral surgery, many automatically assume that the procedure is painful. However, those who have received implants relate the surgery to simple tooth extraction. In fact, Dr. Patel will ensure that you’re numb and comfortable before beginning, offering sedation dentistry as a way to relax.
How long does it take to get dental implants?
The dental implant process may take longer than other options, but the results are always worth it. After your surgery, you will undergo a recovery period of about 3 to 4 months. This healing process is called osseointegration, allowing the biocompatible implants to completely fuse to your jawbone. This creates extra stable and lifelike supports for your restoration, giving you a smile that looks and feels great.
How will dental implants affect my life?
Dental implants will change your life if you’re missing most of your teeth by restoring your ability to eat as well as your confidence to grin. However, another advantage of dental implants is that they seamlessly blend into your smile. If you only need one tooth replaced, a single-tooth dental implant looks and feels like your natural teeth, making it incredibly easy to adjust to life with implants. Just be sure to brush and floss your teeth regularly like you would your natural smile.
What are the best ways to maintain my dental implants?
One of the ways that dental implants in Primrose differ from other replacements like dentures is that they actually become part of your smile, which is why they require care like the rest of your teeth. Be sure to brush twice a day and floss once to remove plaque and bacteria. You can also use a water flosser—a precise stream of water that can help clear out food debris and lingering plaque.
How long do dental implants last?
With proper care, you can expect dental implants to last 30 years or more. And while your restoration (crown, bridge, denture, etc.) may go as far as several decades, the metal posts themselves can last a lifetime! This makes dental implants a much more worthwhile investment compared to traditional options like dentures and bridges, as you won’t have to replace them as often.
However, their longevity all depends on your oral health and lifestyle choices. If you want to make the most of your treatment, you’ll need to practice good oral hygiene, including brushing, flossing, and rinsing with mouthwash every day. Visiting your dentist for checkups and cleanings and avoiding foods that are too hard or sticky will help you preserve your dental implants for much longer.
What can cause dental implants to fail?
Though this is uncommon, a dental implant can fail due to primarily two reasons: peri-implantitis and failed osseointegration. The former is a type of periodontal disease that typically develops from poor oral hygiene, damaging the gums and bone supporting the implant in the process. A failed osseointegration is when the implant does not properly bond with the jawbone, especially if the patient didn’t have a sufficient amount of bone density at the start of their treatment.
In other cases, a dental implant can be unsuccessful due to tobacco use, chronic teeth grinding, radiation to the neck and head, certain medications, and health conditions like diabetes, autoimmune disorders, and cancer. Your dentist will walk you through a guideline on how to minimize your risk of implant failure.
Can I get dental implants if I smoke?
While it’s possible to get dental implants if you smoke, you’ll have a significantly lower chance of successful treatment. Smoking, chewing, or even vaping tobacco can cause dry mouth, which can both allow harmful bacteria to grow and slow down your healing process, interfering with the implants’ ability to bond with your jawbone. This habit can also result in dry socket, an incredibly uncomfortable condition that can end up dislodging the necessary blood clot forming over the implant site. If you tend to smoke, you should consider quitting altogether to ensure your results remain in pristine condition for many years to come. If this isn’t possible, be sure to at least quit two weeks before your procedure and wait two to three months afterward before resuming.
How long does it take to recover from dental implant surgery?
Though dental implant surgery requires an extensive process, you should be capable of returning to your normal activities the day after your appointment. Be sure to refrain from strenuous exercise for at least the first week or so, as you won’t want to interfere with or delay your healing. Any bleeding should usually stop after the first two days, which can easily be managed with gauze pads, and swelling should go away after three to four days. Feel free to take prescribed or over-the-counter pain relievers as instructed. After about six months or so, your implants should integrate successfully with your jawbone.
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